The Tennessee Titans are the NFL’s fat kid who shows up after summer break and shocks everybody by how shredded they are. 

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz backed it up Wednesday morning by releasing his annual under-25-year-old talent rankings, and Tennessee landed at No. 5 in the league. 

The Titans’ young core is led by QB Cam Ward, rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate, and first-round defensive lineman Keldric Faulk is deeper than most national media and fans want to see. 

Nobody is paying attention to this group because the Titans have won just 12 of their previous 59 games. They’ve been the easiest NFL team to laugh at. 

But underneath that losing and laughing, GM Mike Borgonzi and a revamped coaching staff led by Robert Saleh have been quietly stacking talent that hasn’t reached its ceiling… yet.

How Schatz built the rankings

Schatz’s methodology on ESPN accounts for number of starts and snaps played by players under 25, quality of play adjusted for age (a 21-year-old of a given ability projects more growth than a 23-year-old of the same ability). 

He also considers Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, contract value and length, positional importance, draft capital invested in the most recent three rounds, expected starters and reserves under 25, and any injuries or suspensions affecting availability.

“These players are still developing and could become even better and more productive as they hit their peak years,” Schatz wrote. “They also come on affordable rookie contracts that help teams stay under the salary cap and give front offices the room to sign veteran free agents. Young talent helps establish how much success a team is likely to have over the longer term.”

The New England Patriots came in at the top spot. That makes sense. Honestly, the Pats were last year’s version of the team I’m describing here. Nobody saw them coming, and then Mike Vrabel’s squad went to the damn Super Bowl (yes, cake-walk schedule included). 

The Houston Texans dropped to second after spending multiple years at the top because notable guys like cornerback Derrick Stingley Jr. and linebacker Henry To’oto’o graduated past the 25-year-old threshold.

Titans’ under-25 group is stacked

Schatz listed Tate, who is just 21, and Ward as the Titans’ blue-chip players. 

Ward turned 24 in May, making this his final year of eligibility for the exercise.

The notable graduated players Schatz identified are free agent receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and guard Peter Skoronski, who was just voted a top-10 interior offensive lineman in ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler poll earlier this month. 

I’d add cornerback Cor’Dale Flott to that graduated list, too. Flott, signed from the New York Giants in free agency, turns 25 during the preseason. He’s going to be a big-time player for this team.

“Six different players who are currently under 25 started at least 10 games for last season’s Titans,” Schatz wrote. “They added two first-round picks in Tate and Keldric Faulk to that young group of talented players.”

The receivers, alone, are loaded with youth and upside. Tate is 21, Epic Ayomanor is 23, Chim Dike is 24, and tight end Gunnar Helm turns 24 in September. Offensive tackle JC Latham is just 23 and entering his third season.

The defense is a near mirror image. Faulk turns 22 before the season begins. Linebacker Cedric Gray is 24 in October. Safety Kevin Winston Jr. turns 23 in December during his second year. Linebacker Anthony Hill, who could crack the starting lineup at some point this year, is 22 for the entire season. Second-year edge rusher Femi Oladejo is also just 22.

Count them up, including the three notable graduated players, and that’s 12 guys who are 25 or younger and expected to be significant contributors this year and next.

The recipe already exists

Sometimes nobody recognizes that underneath the baby fat, underneath the losing, there’s hidden muscle being built. All you need is veteran help and a coaching staff that knows how to channel it. 

The Titans went out and got exactly that with Saleh, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, and a free agent class designed to raise the floor.

This has happened three years in a row now. In 2023, C.J. Stroud went 2nd overall to Houston, and DeMeco Ryans’ Texans made the playoffs as a rookie-QB team. In 2024, Jayden Daniels went 2nd overall to Washington, and Dan Quinn’s Commanders reached the NFC Championship Game. Last year, the Patriots picked 4th overall and Vrabel took them to the Super Bowl. All three teams had new head coaches. Saleh is taking over in Nashville.

I don’t expect the Titans to make the playoffs this year. But the recipe is sitting right there. Borgonzi has stacked the young talent. Saleh’s staff knows how to develop it. 

Tennessee just has to stay disciplined and follow the plan, because this group of young players can be special once the rest of the league finally starts paying attention.